The award-winning “Invisible Scars” is set to captivate audiences with its raw portrayal of gender-based violence (GBV) and mental health issues in South Africa.
The gripping two-hander, which was The 2024 Baxter Zabalaza Theatre Festival Best Production winner, has been described as an exploration of the human spirit as well as a call to embrace hope and renewal.
It is written and directed by Themba Baleni, who also received the Best Director Award for the production at the Zabalaza Festival earlier this year.
It features Thandolwethu Mzembe and Abongile Ntshuca, who play a married couple whose “once harmonious marriage morphs into a high-stakes battlefield where love becomes entangled with business dealings and personal betrayal as the relationship is strained to its limits, unravelling and revealing the profound impact of a couple’s darkest thoughts and unspoken truths,” a statement read.
“The heart-wrenching drama follows the life of a celebrated soccer player, whose glittering career is on the brink of a breakthrough,” it added.
“In a shocking twist of fate, a devastating car accident threatens to obliterate his dreams and force him to confront the fragility of his world. As he battles to reclaim his future, the audience is challenged to face their own fears and find the strength to rise again.”
The play is also set to immerse theatregoers in an emotional odyssey through physical theatre as well as evocative poetry and a mix of audio-visual elements.
“Each moment is crafted to the audience into the character’s inner turmoil and profound resilience.”
“It vividly brings to life the challenges and triumphs of those who dare to confront their invisible scars.”
Mdu Kweyama, the artistic director of the Baxter Zabalaza Theatre Festival, explained: “This play is not just a theatrical piece but a compelling call to empathy, urging us all to address the unseen scars that impact us personally and our society, in the pursuit of a more compassionate and just future.”
Where: The Golden Arrow Studio at the Baxter Theatre Centre.
When: From Wednesday, October 9, to October 19, at 8pm nightly, with selected matinees at 11am and 2.30pm.
Cost: Tickets cost R100, with a discounted rate of R50 for students, group bookings of 10 or more as well as charities. They are available through Webtickets or at Pick n Pay stores.
“Amapiano Dance Championship”
Internationally-renowned theatre director and dance maestro, Elvis Sibeko is commemorating the nation’s 30 years of democracy with the “Amapiano Dance Championship”.
The inaugural production fuses the viral sub-genre of house music with theatre.
The regional qualifiers will kick off at the Artscape Theatre Centre from October 10 to 12. It will then move to Johannesburg, Durban, Bloemfonteinand Gqeberha.
The qualifiers will culminate in the National Championship Weekender in Johannesburg, which will take place in September next year.
In 2026, the championship is set to expand internationally as it further promotes South Africa’s vibrant amapiano dance culture on a global stage.
Meanwhile, the three-day Mother City event promises an electrifying mix of cutting-edge choreography and innovative performances, where the vibrant amapiano genre culture meets the transformative power of theatre.
It will also offer dancers from the townships an opportunity to be exposed to the theatre world as well as professional training.
“By providing young people from disadvantaged backgrounds the opportunity to perform professionally, the Amapiano Dance Championship equips them with the skills, knowledge and opportunities needed to build sustainable careers in dance and the performing arts,” Sibeko, who is also the founder and CEO of Elvis Sibeko Studios, explained.
All selected participants will also receive free Theatre Craft Workshops, valued at R25,000. They will cover horeography, costume design, lighting design and sound engineering.
A panel of celebrity choreographers, professional dancers and industry experts will serve as judges, while representatives from film production companies, cruise ship agencies, talent agencies, dance schools and private investors will be scouting for new talent.
The grand prize for the Amapiano Dance Championship is R50,000, with additional trophies and recognition awarded for the first, up to third places in each category.
There will also be a special award for the Most Promising Talent and all participants will receive certificates of participation.
To enter the Amapiano Championship, visit: https://adc.elvissibekostudios.co.za/.
Tickets for the event at the Artscape cost R170 and are available through Webtickets.
“My Left Breast”
TV star Shannon Esra takes the lead in this internationally acclaimed one-woman play.
Directed by Janet Baylis, it is written by Obie Award-winning author, Susan Miller.
The production is a comical and poignant story of a gay mother who is recovering from breast cancer.
As the show fuses ruthless honesty with gentle humour, Esra, who starred in “Lioness” and “Isidingo”, amongst many others, will take theatregoers on a captivating as she allows them to identify with the pain, suffering, redemption and rebirth of the character she plays.
The actress first starred in “My Left Breast” during her first year at university.
Directed by Dorothy Ann Gould in 2004, it earned her the Naledi Award for Best Performance by a Newcomer/Breakthrough (Female) as well as a Fleur du Cup nomination for Best Supporting Actress.
There is an age restriction of 16 years.
Where: The Baxter Masambe Theatre.
When: From Wednesday, October 10, to October 24. All shows start at 7pm, apart from the Saturday matinees, which begin at 3pm.
Cost: Tickets start from R150 and are available through Webtickets or at Pick n pay stores.